THE government committed no treason when it forged a pact with China to negotiate a possible oil and gas exploration in the future, Malacañang asserted on Monday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo dismissed the allegation made by communist leader Jose Maria Sison against the government as the Palace finally released a copy of “Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Oil and Gas Development between the Philippines and China” amid calls for transparency.
Under the deal signed last week, the two governments agreed “to negotiate on an accelerated basis arrangements to facilitate oil and gas exploration and exploitation in relevant maritime areas consistent with applicable rules of international law.”
An inter-governmental joint steering committee, represented by both countries, will be established to negotiate the cooperation agreement and maritime areas for oil and gas exploration. The three-page document stated that the two sides aim to complete the energy deal within 12 months.
“It’s just an agreement to agree on certain things. There is nothing there that will be a basis for any allegation of treason. Even the critics say there is nothing there,” Panelo said during a Palace press briefing.
Panelo argued that the MOU would be the “framework” for the negotiations on a possible oil development cooperation between the Philippines and China. He assured the public that the government would ensure any oil exploration deal would be constitutional and beneficial to the nation.
“It will be the basis of negotiations, talking points, and then after that there will be an agreement between the two countries,” he said.
“It will start from those who assigned to initially make some talks then it will reach another level until it reaches (Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teodoro) Locsin. That’s the time to say anything whether for or against any agreement,” he added.
Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, earlier alleged that the latest oil and gas exploration deal signed by the two counties was a “clear act of treason” on the part of President Duterte.
Sison, in a statement last weekend, said the MOU was also “a blatant betrayal of the sovereign rights and national patrimony of the Philippines and the Filipino people.”
As other groups expressed concern about the country’s oil agreement with China, Panelo insisted that the government would not allow the country to be on the losing end in any joint oil exploration deal.
He also assured that joint exploration of natural resources in the country was allowed as long as the constitutional limits such as the 60-40 sharing agreement in favor of Filipinos, are followed. (Genalyn Kabiling)
